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ICASA investigates allegations: Blacklisting of political journalists on Metro FM

7 Dec 2012 06:07

The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa has issued the following statement after the controversial canning of interviews with three political journalists on the subject of the ANC's upcoming elective conference at Mangaung.

"The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa has noted recent media reports about the SABC cancelling a current affairs studio interview before it went on air earlier this week. The Metro FM programme was to involve a panel discussion with some journalists regarding developments in the run-up to the ANC Mangaung conference to be held in a week's time."

The Authority has requested the SABC to provide facts related to this incident with the purpose of determining whether the incident referred to constitutes a violation of its licence terms and conditions as well as the SABC Editorial Policy.

The statement goes on to say that ICASA has also requested the SABC to provide the recordings of the Metro FM programme concerned, after which the Authority "will apply its mind to determine its next course of action".

ICASA gave the SABC until Tuesday, 11 December 2012, to respond to the matter.

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